President Obama and Bear Grylls
"I am in what's called the bubble, and Secret Service makes sure that I'm always out of danger, which I very much appreciate, but it can be a little confining," he said. "If I do something unexpected, the phrase we use is that, 'The bear is loose.'"
President Obama has officially run wild.
In an upcoming episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls, the president along with host Bear Grylls venture through the Alaskan wilderness for a special edition of NBC's unscripted adventure series to air later this year.
A clip that aired on Today shows the two shared a meal during their trek: a piece of salmon, which was a "bloody carcass" already picked over by a bear for the fatty parts, and with the meat left behind. "Bear's a mediocre cook, but the fact that we ate something recognizable was encouraging," said Obama. "Now, the fact that he told me this was a leftover fish from a bear, I don't know if that was necessary. He could have just left that out."
The adventure was refreshing for the politician. "As president, I am in what's called the bubble, and Secret Service makes sure that I'm always out of danger, which I very much appreciate, but it can be a little confining," he said. "Every once in a while, if I do something unexpected, the phrase we use is that, 'The bear is loose,' so to be with Bear in the woods, it doesn't get any better than that."
Obama shot the episode during his recent three-day trip to Alaska -- visiting Anchorage, Dillingham and Kotzebue, as well as Exit Glacier and Kenai Fjords National Park -- to observe the effects of climate change on the area. "I want to make sure this is there for them, not just for us," he said of his daughters and their future families.
Running Wild With Bear Grylls is currently in its second season. The reality series previously has welcomed a slew of celebrity guests including Kate Winslet, Channing Tatum, Kate Hudson and Zac Efron, among others.
Watch the clip below.
